New uniform – any thoughts?

[njb]

Its been nearly a week now since launch date. Any views on the Ozwald vs the J Mac?

[masaccio]

njb wrote:

Its been nearly a week now since launch date. Any views on the Ozwald vs the J Mac?

Saw it on Facebook and decided I couldn’t tell the difference.

[Super Secret Stuff]

I like it, looks nice

[SteveCroydon]

Sod the uniforms. Improve:
timekeeping
onboard service
catering
handling rerouting/compensation/etc
the cr@p IT systems
general Customer Services
telephone booking lines
need I go on … …

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

SteveCroydon wrote:

Sod the uniforms. Improve:
timekeeping
onboard service
catering
handling rerouting/compensation/etc
the cr@p IT systems
general Customer Services
telephone booking lines
need I go on … …

This please. There’s something a bit anachronistic about those sorts of uniforms nowadays, what with even working dad store M&S drastically reducing its formalwear and ties range.

And then of course there’s the Asian airlines where the female cabin crew uniform is arguably unsafe in an emergency.

[Richie]

I saw them on my flight on Friday, looks good.

[George K]

It feels that we’ve gone from something fairly recognisable, to one that is completely non-descript.

I can’t comment on the practicality of the cuts and the garment itself, but visually, it’s just average.

[executiveclubber]

It’s more detailed in person than it looks, but it was fine beforehand. It looks quite matronly and not very glamorous but I doubt many pax even notice. Which is why… I have no idea why they approved the cost of this compared to more urgent fixes to BA’s image.

I know you can’t just grab budget and redistribute but how many short haul teas and coffees (service differentiator) / app & website fixes (first impressions) could the uniform budget have paid for?

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Do uniforms cost money? Yes they do

But the money spent on these new uniforms would only have had to be spent on replacing stocks of the old uniforms for existing staff and new ones for new staff.

[ClubSmed]

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

Do uniforms cost money? Yes they do

But the money spent on these new uniforms would only have had to be spent on replacing stocks of the old uniforms for existing staff and new ones for new staff.

I think this is a slight oversimplification, some of the uniforms would have been mid or early cycle, so not needing replaced. Then there is the design costs. But yes, the full cost of the new uniforms are not new costs, but some still is.
Also, the cost of a new uniform is likely a drop in the ocean of what would need to be invested for IT changes.

[executiveclubber]

ClubSmed wrote:

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

Do uniforms cost money? Yes they do

But the money spent on these new uniforms would only have had to be spent on replacing stocks of the old uniforms for existing staff and new ones for new staff.

I think this is a slight oversimplification, some of the uniforms would have been mid or early cycle, so not needing replaced. Then there is the design costs. But yes, the full cost of the new uniforms are not new costs, but some still is.
Also, the cost of a new uniform is likely a drop in the ocean of what would need to be invested for IT changes.

Hence I asked how many fixes. As a customer / investor I’d much rather have incremental gains than new uniforms. I don’t really understand who benefits from them.

[Andrew J]

It’s a shame that they haven’t included shoes in the men’s uniform, so it’s whatever shoes the staff have decided to buy (and maintain) themselves, whereas Virgin Atlantic provide very smart and distinctive shoes for everyone. Seems a cost saving measure which will detract from the otherwise good tailoring.

[chelseafifi]

We had a mix of uniform on our flight from SKG, not sure why but they made an apology announcement about it, don’t think many would have noticed had they not mentioned it!

[WaynedP]

Apology was issued on our ZAK to LHR flight last week for a mix of new and old uniforms due to partial rather than compete roll out of the uniform on our flight.

Honestly I couldn’t tell the difference, but I’m notoriously lacking in any sense of fashion, and usually happy to be led by others who know better.

Personally I just wish they would increase the size and darken the colour of cabin crew members’ printed names so that when I discreetly try to make a note of staff names I don’t look like a perv from a Carry On film whose fixated on some poor woman’s chest.

[Carlos]

SteveCroydon wrote:

Sod the uniforms. Improve:
timekeeping
onboard service
catering
handling rerouting/compensation/etc
the cr@p IT systems
general Customer Services
telephone booking lines
need I go on … …

Do you still fly BA? If so change airline

[yorkieflyer]

Carlos wrote:

SteveCroydon wrote:

Sod the uniforms. Improve:
timekeeping
onboard service
catering
handling rerouting/compensation/etc
the cr@p IT systems
general Customer Services
telephone booking lines
need I go on … …

Do you still fly BA? If so change airline

Why should a sensible list of improvements that clearly ought to be prioritised meet such a reaction? I think Japan Airlines and Qatar are excellent but will struggle to find a routing to San Diego or Barbados with either. Unfortunately the choice is often BA or another poor choice or connecting flights.

[ClubSmed]

executiveclubber wrote:

ClubSmed wrote:

Hence I asked how many fixes. As a customer / investor I’d much rather have incremental gains than new uniforms. I don’t really understand who benefits from them.

I agree, they should concentrate the funds to fixing the moments that matter and not making changes that nobody will really notice.
I think a lot of the issues on the funding will be down to the way big corporates account each year, there probably needs to be a far more fundamental shift in org design and culture before we can realistically see any of the things we want to see happen.